Stretch clamp

ABSTRACT

A stretchable clamp as for hoses and the like, of an integral band of polymeric material with bosses protruding from one face and having aligned orifices to receive a threaded fastener.

United States Patent 1 1 Anderson et al. 1 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] STRETCHCLAMP [56] References Cited [75] Inventors: Charles B. Anderson, SpringLake; UNITED STATES PATENTS wmim Nunica, 1,505,883 8/1924 Gleason..24/279 ux 2,208,859 7/1940 Scott ..24/279 V v 2,359,209 9/1944Ellinwood ..248/74 P B [73] Ass1gnee: Atco Rubber Products, Inc., Grand3,517,702 6/1970 Mueller etal. ....24/l6PB UX Haven, Mich, 3,565,3752/1971 Babb ..248/74 P B [22] Filed: I, 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS 0RAPPLICATIONS 600,189 6/1960 Canada ..24/279 [21] Appl. No.: 111,569

Primary ExaminerDonald A. Griffin 52 us. 01 ..24/279 Heneveld Hmmga &Cooper 51 1m. (:1. B65d 63/06 A T [58] Field of Search ..292/307; 1

24mm, 16 PB, 20 TT, 24/73 P, 279; 248/721;

74 PB,253, 367,410, 420,4l l

A stretchable clamp as for hoses and the like, of an integral band ofpolymeric material with bosses protruding fromone face and havingalignedorifices to receive a threaded fastener.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9197a 3,708,834

SHEET 2 (IF 2 STRETCH CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to clamps such as hose clamps, and more particularly to apolymeric band clamp.

Hose clamps of metal, while strong, are multi-component in nature, arerelatively expensive to manufacture, do present sharp exposed edges, andare quite unsightly in appearance.

In some special instances, it has been possible to employ ratchet stylebayonet polymeric fasteners instead of metal clamps. However, these havelimited clamping capacity, tighten only along spaced increments of theratchet teeth, and leave an exposed end dangling. Therefore, althoughmetal clamps as for hose clamps often present distinct disadvantages,nothing commer cially offered has been sufficiently effective to allowsubstitution thereof, even for air conducting conduits or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a novel polymericstretch clamp which has a variable tightening capacity over adimensional range. The clamp is moldable of one piece construction,except for a threaded fastener. It can be tightened to a final conditionallowing the fastener bosses to be pulled up flush to each other,presenting an aesthetically appealing appearance. It has significanttensile strength, especially when stretched, to be effectively used as ahose clamp or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thenovel stretch clamp;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the clamp;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the clamp;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the clamp in use;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through the apparatus in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the novel stretchclamp.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now specifically tothe drawings, and particularly to the first modification illustrated inFIGS. 1-5, the novel stretch clamp 10 is an integral elongated band ofgenerally uniform cross-section over its length, of a polymericmaterial, preferably an injection moldable polymeric material such asABS rubber,

polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyls or some suita ble thermoplasticmaterial well known in the art. The elongated band 12 has a pair ofopposite faces 14 and I6 which are generally flat and parallel to eachother. Adjacent the opposite ends of this elongated band, a pair ofpolymeric bosses protrude from one of the faces 14, these bosses l8 andbeing integral with the polymeric band. In forming the band, thesebosses are molded integral therewith. Each of these bosses has afastener receiving orifice, 18' and 20 respectively, in the protrusionsor bosses 18 and 20. When the band 12 is in a flat generally planar formas illustrated in FIGS. l-3, these orifices are in alignment with eachother, as well as being aligned generally parallel to the elongateddimension of the band. Bosses l8 and 20 also include a pair of abuttmentfaces 18 a and 20a respectively on opposite ends of the band, facingoutwardly of the band.

Polymeric band 12 has flexibility, enabling it to be configurated into acircular shape or configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 or intoother cu'rvalinear configurations to encompass the periphery of a deviceto be clamped. When configuration for attachment of the clamp, abuttmentfaces 18a and 20a face each other, with orifices 18' and 20' again beingin alignment with each other.

The band 12 has strength to enable it to be tightened securely aroundthe periphery of a hose, e.g., hose 30, fitted over a conduit such as32, particularly when the band is stretched a controlled amount untilfaces 18a and 20a are in abuttment. Typically, the band will havedimensions of approximately three sixty-fourths of an inch thick andthree-eighths of an inch wide. When ap plied around the hose andconduit, the threaded fastener fits loosely through orifice 20' andthreadably engages orifice 18'. The threaded fastener or screw 34 may bea self threading unit, i.e., having the characteristic elongated notchsuch that orifice 18' need not be previously threaded but is dimensionedso as to be threaded with initial insertion of screw 34. The particularband clamp chosen for a particular installation is purposely of a lengtha friction of an inch shorter than the dimension around the hoseperiphery to be clamped. Then fasterer 34 is tightened until the clampstretches a sufficient amount to place faces 18a and 20a into engagementwith each other. This causes the band to stretch and therefore have agreater strength in retaining the assembly in engagement. It also causesthe hose clamp to have an aesthetic appearance greatly improved overconventional hose clamps. No sharp edges are exposed. The color can beas desired to match the structure.

The novel clamp can be initially formed in a flat configuration andsubsequently reformed into its curved configuration during use.Alternately, and it can be molded in a curved configuration.

Utilizing the invention, the modified form in FIG. 6 can also beprovided. Since the method of molding the clamp is relativelyinexpensive, and since the materials forming it are also relativelyinexpensive, the clamp can be formed of any desired length, with anydesired number of spaced bosses, e.g., 20 on one end, and I8, 18x and18y on the other end of the band, to enable the purchaser to obtain oneclamp which can accomodate several different size hoses or the like. Ifonly bosses 18 and 20 are needed for example, the remainder of theplastic band and spaced bosses can simply be cut off with a jack knife,a pair of scissors, or the like. Specifically, if the purchaser merelywishes a clamp of the length to include bosses l8 and 20, he wouldsimply cut off hand extensions 12): and 12y as well as protrusions 18xand 18y. Alternately, only extension 12y and protrusion 18y could beremoved if this is desired.

This modified device subsequently functions in the same way as explainedrelative to the first embodiment.

It is also conceivable that certain additional details of the structuremay be modified without departing from the concept presented. Hence, theinvention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims and the reasonable equivalents to those defined therein ratherthan to the specific preferred embodiments shown as illustrative.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows.

generally adjacent each other when said band assumes a curvalinearconfiguration; said bosses each having a fastener-receiving orificeextending therethrough, generally aligned with said elongated band andwith each other; and said band having a thin cross section allowinglimited elastic stretching expandability along its length under tensionto enable it to be tightened securely around the periphery of a hose.

2. The clamp in claim 1 including one of said bosses adjacent one end, asecond of said bosses adjacent the opposite end and at least oneaddition boss integral with said band and spaced from said one bosstoward said second boss.

I I 1* I!

2. The clamp in claim 1 including one of said bosses adjacent one end, asecond of said bosses adjacent the opposite end and at least oneaddition boss integral with said band and spaced from said one bosstoward said second boss.